Image processing apparatus, image processing method, information processing program, fluorescence observation system, and fluorescence navigation surgery system

Abstract

An information processing apparatus includes a storage unit, a cutting-out unit, and a display controller. The storage unit is configured to store an image of fluorescence emitted from an observation target area of a living body in a recording medium as a fluorescence image of the observation target area, the image of fluorescence being captured with a first definition, the image of fluorescence being obtained by applying excitation light to the observation target area to which a fluorescent reagent is added in advance.The cutting-out unit is configured to cause a user to select at least a partial area of the fluorescence image and to cut out the selected area as a fluorescence image of a ROI area. The display controller is configured to cause a display unit to display the fluorescence image of a ROI area with a second definition that is lower than the first definition.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A surgical navigation system for use during surgical operation, comprising:
 a surgical microscope including:
 at least one light source device configured to apply excitation light to an observation target of a living body; 
 a fluorescent imaging device configured to capture a fluorescent image of the observation target based on excitation light reflected from the observation target, the fluorescent image having a first pixel resolution; and 
 a visible light imaging device configured to capture a visible light image of the observation target, the visible light imaging device having a red, green, and blue (RGB) color filter pattern and generating the visible light image as a color image according to a demosaicing process; 
 
 a display having a second pixel resolution different from the first pixel resolution; and 
 circuitry configured to:
 receive selecting information about a partial area of the observation target that corresponds to a defect corrected and uncompressed region of interest (ROI), the selecting information including information on at least one of zooming or panning performed by the visible light imaging device when capturing the visible light image of the observation target; 
 select a portion of the fluorescent image based on the selecting information; 
 generate a superimposed image by aligning the selected portion of the fluorescent image with the visible light image; and 
 control the display to display the superimposed image with the ROI. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The surgical navigation system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an optical device that directs the excitation light toward the fluorescent imaging device and that directs the visible light toward the visible imaging device. 
 
     
     
       3. The surgical navigation system of  claim 2 , wherein the optical device reflects the excitation light and passes the visible light. 
     
     
       4. The surgical navigation system of  claim 2 , wherein the optical device comprises a dichroic mirror. 
     
     
       5. The surgical navigation system of  claim 1 , wherein the selecting information includes edge information of the visible light image. 
     
     
       6. The surgical navigation system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first zoomable lens optically coupled to the visible light imaging device; and 
 a second zoomable lens optically coupled to the fluorescent imaging device.